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Roman Boy

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Book Synopsis

The action-packed story of Roman boy Lucius, exiled from Rome to the most savage province of the Empire – Britannia.
Banished from Rome by his jealous stepfather, fourteen-year-old Lucius is exiled to Londinium. Plunged into mortal danger as he flees his stepfather’s assassin, Lucius takes a false name and joins the brutal ranks of The Eagles, the Roman Legion in Britannia. Under the watchful eye of the god Jupiter, Lucius excels in battle and catches the attention of his superiors – but how can he fulfil his destiny when he can’t even claim his own name? As the shadows of war gather, Lucius’s secret past catches up with him. He must face not only the Celtic rebels but also his stepfather’s relentless vendetta – and the spectre of his own self-doubt.

Our Review Panel says...

This latest historical fiction from Tony Bradman has all the elements of a traditional historical adventure story, with a thoughtful and courageous hero who’s out to prove himself navigating the Roman world and who’s naturally skilled in a classic sword fight. The story is exciting, tightly plotted, and grounded in enough research for the setting to be thoroughly convincing.

Lucius is eager to be adopted by his new stepfather and to make his way in Rome, but instead finds himself packed off to Londinium, where he discovers a ruthless assassin on his tail. To escape, he joins the Roman army under a false name. His bravery and loyalty quickly earn him recognition from his commanders, but the more he gains success, the more he wishes he could reclaim his true identity. As danger looms on the northern border, Lucius’s position becomes more precarious and secrets from his past threaten to resurface and destroy everything he has fought for.

While not especially complex, the narrative is pacy and well-written, with great chapter headings that read like newspaper headlines. It would make an excellent page-turning read-aloud or ‘read for pleasure’ recommendation in any class studying Roman Britain at Key Stage 2.